FANTASY FOOTBALL REVIEW – WEEK 2 WAIVERS AND PLAYER OUTLOOK

We’re through two weeks in the NFL season and what a ride!!! The world seems topsy-turvy with the Miami Dolphins, Cincinnati Bengals, and Tampa Bay Bucs at 2-0. Meanwhile the Pittsburgh Steelers and Houston Texans are winless, and we’ve already seen two games end in a tie. But how crazy has the fantasy season been???

TE – The top 3 fantasy scoring TEs are Jared Cook, Jesse James, and Will Dissly

Remember, we’re only 2 weeks into the season. Starting this week, you will see fantasy owners panic and drop good players because they had 2 bad games. Don’t overreact and try to cash in when other owners do. After 4 weeks of poor play, then you can assess if a player needs to be cut.

So onto the “Fantasy Smoke & Fire” for week 2, where we read beyond the stat lines to determine player values moving forward.

Here are the four categories of players we look at each week:

On Fire – These are players that are exceeding expectations (or ADP), and we expect it to continue. Think waiver wire adds!

Smoke (and mirrors) – These are players that have performed well recently, but we do not expect it to continue. Don’t buy into the hype; pass on the waiver wire pickup. Possibly look to trade them away with the value is high.

False Alarm – These are players that are underperforming recently, but we expect them to turn around. Don’t cut bait too early. Possibly look to acquire them in a trade while the value is low.

On Ice – These are players that have not performed well, and we expect a poor season to continue. They should stay on the bench (or be cut depending on the player/circumstances).

On Fire – Obviously all of these players aren’t on waivers, but they have impressed and I expect it to continue.

Fire

Pos

Player

Comment

QB

Patrick Mahomes

23/28 326-6-0. I doubted Mahomes entering the year. He’s the real deal and his decision making is quick/sharp. Never been a question of his cannon arm.

QB

Kirk Cousins

35/48 425-4-1. Same old slinging Cousins, just on a new team.

RB

Chris Thompson

4-1 (13-92 on 14 targets). He doesn’t always get the most touches, but I’m finally starting to buy into him.

RB

Tevin Coleman

16-107 (4-18 on 4 targets). Anytime Freeman (or Coleman) is out, the other is a great fantasy play.

RB

Phillip Lindsay

14-107 (1-4 on 1 target). Is Lindsay really the lead back of the Broncos? We would all like to see them stick with one.

WR

Will Fuller

8-113-1 on 9 targets. Outside of Fuller and Hopkins, nobody else had more than 3 targets. Fuller is 30-40% of the passing game.

WR

Sammy Watkins

6-100 on 7 targets (1-31 rushing). Looking like a resurgence as long as Mahomes keeps up his game.

WR

Juju Smith-Schuster

13-121-1 on 19 targets. He got more looks than AB. It’ll continue with so much defensive attention payed to Brown.

WR

Nelson Agholor

8-88-1 on 12 targets. Outside of Ertz, he’s the most heavily involved in the passing game. Will it continue with Wentz back next week?

WR

Quincy Enunwa

7-92 on 11 targets. Looks like Darnold’s go to guy.

WR

Kenny Golladay

6-89-1 on 9 targets. Just keeps pushing for looks from Stafford. It will continue, but he’s still the #3 receiver til Marvin Jones falters.

WR

Allen Robinson

10-83 on 14 targets. Trubisky’s certainly looking his way. I doubted his ADP this year but he may come through.

TE

Will Dissly

3-42-1 on 5 targets. He’s building trust from Wilson and should see looks with Baldwin out.

Smoke – They had a good start to the season, but I’m not sold on it continuing.

Smoke

Pos

Player

Comment

QB

Ryan Fitzpatrick

27/33 402-4-1. Fitz-Magic is rolling. He’s on a hot streak and may keep the QB job from Winston. But his career proves that he’s certainly not this good.

QB

Andy Dalton

24/42 265-4-0. Week 2 may be the only 4 TD game he has all year. He’s no more that a low-end QB2 matchup play.

QB

Blake Bortles

29/45 377-4-1 (6-35). Bortles did everything he needed to do to beat the Patriots. He’s not a fantasy QB that you want to lean on all season.

RB

Matt Breida

11-138-1 (3-21 on 4 targets). He had one great long run; the rest was mediocre.

WR

DeSean Jackson

4-129-1 on 4 targets. Jackson can’t keep this up all season. He’ll always catch a few long ones, but the week to week consistency isn’t there.

WR

Brandon Cooks

7-159 on 9 targets. Goff spreads the ball around and I don’t expect a top 5 passing attack. I don’t expect big games consistently.

WR

Keelan Cole

7-116-1 on 8 targets. Everyone will talk about the spectacular 1 handed catch. That doesn’t get you extra fantasy points; and neither will Bortles.

TE

Jesse James

5-138-1 on 5 targets. Had some big plays, but the Steelers offense uses him as a safety valve more than a playmaker.

False Alarm – Don’t overreact to these players just because of a slow start; they’ll be fine moving forward. If they get cut in your league, be quick to scoop them up.

False Alarm

Pos

Player

Comment

QB

Aaron Rodgers

30/42 281-1-0. The knee injury will only slightly impact his fantasy production over the next month. Expect 90% of typical Rodgers.

RB

Alex Collins

9-35 (3-55 on 4 targets). Collins is still the man, but Bal was behind 21-0 early.

RB

Adrian Peterson

11-20 (3-30 on 3 targets). Surprising stat line against a bottom tier Ind def. I expect a rebound.

RB

Kareem Hunt

18-75 (1-5-1 on 1 target). Don’t panic, but pounce if there’s a worried owner out there. Also see Dalvin Cook…

RB

Kenyan Drake

11-53-1 (4-17 on 4 targets). I still believe in Drake, but need to see a big game by week 4.

RB

Dalvin Cook

10-38 (3-52 on 5 targets). Don’t panic, but pounce if there’s a worried owner out there. Also see Kareem Hunt…

RB

Jordan Howard

14-35 (3-33 on 4 targets). Still the workhorse; TDs will come.

WR

SF Wide Receivers

No one targeted more than 4 times. Goodwin was out week 2. Someone will step up, but who?

WR

Odell Beckham Jr.

4-51 on 9 targets. Still one of the best in the league.

TE

Rob Gronkowski

2-15 on 4 targets. Just because Jacksonville shut him down, it doesn’t mean other teams can replicate.

On Ice – These guys are not performing and I don’t expect it to turnaround any time soon (compared to expectations).

On Ice

Pos

Player

Comment

QB

Andrew Luck

21/31 179-2-2. I didn’t trust him as a top 5 QB before his shoulder injury in 2016; he’ll be up and down all year.

QB

Sam Bradford

17/27 90-0-1. How pitiful!!! Is it time for Josh Rosen?

QB

Case Keenum

19/35 222-0-1 (3-16-1). Can any QB be successful in Denver these days? Not looking good for Keenum

QB

Russell Wilson

15/27 139-1-1. Sacked 6 times in each of the first 2 games. It’s gonna be tough sledding this year.

RB

Derrick Henry

18-56. Until teams respect the passing game, Henry won’t be a fantasy starter.

RB

Dion Lewis

14-42 (1-1 on 1 target). I like his chances at a rebound more than Henry because of his receiving ability, but the passing game stinks!!!